Ranit Kr. Singh , Kolkata - The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has directed all district magistrates to establish "holding centres" to detain illegal immigrants ahead of their deportation. Issued by the state’s home and hill affairs department on May 23, the directive aligns with the ruling BJP's election promise of a "detect, delete, and deport" policy targeted at undocumented infiltrators. The initiative mirrors the aggressive border and mass deportation strategies championed by US President Donald Trump, drawing immediate parallels in both political rhetoric and administrative execution.

Under the new guidelines, which reference a Union Home Ministry advisory concerning illegal Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas, suspects can be held in these temporary facilities for up to 30 days. During this window, local authorities will verify nationalities and documentation, with district magistrates holding the final authority over citizenship status. To bypass lengthy legal procedures, Chief Minister Adhikari announced that individuals apprehended by state police will be handed directly to the Border Security Force (BSF) for swift repatriation.

The move marks a dramatic shift from the state's previous administration, which frequently accused central border forces of facilitating infiltration. By expanding state-led detention infrastructure, Bengal's approach closely resembles the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) model of utilizing converted warehouse facilities and mandatory detentions. While the initiative is in its initial phases, critics highlight that like the American crackdown, the policy faces intense scrutiny regarding due process, human rights, and prolonged detentions.